Movable feed bunk

ABSTRACT

An animal and poultry feeding apparatus having feed bunks movably suspended from an overhead rail. A plurality of spaced Ushaped hangers, longitudinally spaced from each other with rigid struts, support upright suspension members connected to the ends of the feed bunks. The suspension members each have a flexible cable and a winch so that the elevation of the feed bunks can be changed. An elongated chain supported on the hangers and connected to the end hangers is trained over a motor driven wheel. Rotation of the wheel moves the chain pulling the end hangers toward the wheel, thereby moving the feed bunks along the rail.

Unlted States Patent 1 1 1 1 3,719,170

Peterson March 6, 1973 [54] MOVABLE FEED BUNK 3,266,462 8/1966 P1111611,Jr. et a1. ..119 52 AF 76 I t M L. P t Kerkho nven or e arson, VenPrimary ExaminerHugh R. Chamblee Attorney-Burd, Braddock & Bartz [22]Filed: Feb. 18, 1971 21 App]. No.: 116,538 [57] ABSTRACT An animal andpoultry feeding apparatus having feed 52 US. Cl. ..119/52 AF bunksmovably Suspended from all Overhead lall- A 51 1111.01. ..A0lk 05/02plurallly of Spaced P hangers, longitudinally [58] Field of Search..119/52 AF, 52 B, 51 R Spaced fmm each other with rigid Struts PPupright suspension members connected to the ends of [56] ReferencesCited the feed bunks. The suspension members each have a flexible cableand a winch so that the elevation of the UNITED STATE PAT feed bunks canbe changed. An elongated chain sup- 3 252 444 5/1966 Haen ..119/52 BPmed the hangers and muted the end 2:797:663 H1957 gers is trained overa motor driven wheel. Rotation of 1,518,664 12/1924 the wheel moves thechain pulling the end hangers 3,581,712 6/1971 toward the wheel, therebymoving the feed bunks 2,987,040 6/1961 along the rail. 3,123,050 3/19642,800,106 7/1957 Nelson l19/52 AF 14 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 9 l5 226 7 l9 /8 0 /5 21A 2/ A v L1. A \A A A\ A /A A A 1 A II II ll 5 ll II al l tr: 5...-

I 1 Z2 Z5 Z2 Z5 22 25 Z5 I -24 l 23 23 2 3 22 X X l, 1 H J:; :i

PATEHTED HAR 6 ms SHEET 10F 4 26 7 9 A A {/A a ll I 4 x 2 B 4 1 z z 4 kv 3 I5 z M n 5 5/ 2 46 INVENIOR.

MAURICE L. PETERSON iEtJLd FIG. 5'

ATTORNEYS ,lTO

PATENTEUHAR 6I975 SHEET 2 OF 4 INVENTOR. MAURICE L. E ETERSON ATTORNEYSPATENTEDHAR 6M 7 3,719,170

SHEET 30F 4 1 N VEN TOR.

MAURICE L. PETERSON AT TORNEYS PATENTED 61973 7 19,170

SHEET w 4 INVENTOR. MAURICE L. PETERSON ad mwwg v ATTOV'RNEYS MOVABLEFEED BUNK BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Monorail livestock feeders have beenused to carry feed from a storage location to a feed lot. The U. S. Pat.to Maryott, No. 1,518,664, shows a livestock feeding apparatus having aplurality of feed bunks carried on an overhead rail. A power driven drumis used to drive a cable connected to the feed bunks to move the bunksalong the rail. The U. S. Pat. to Martin No. 2,685,863, and Bailey No.2,797,663, show monorail livestock feeders having feed hoppers connectedto carriages rotatably mounted on longitudinal rails. Each carriage hasdrive wheels propelling the carriage along the rail. These feeders arerelatively inefficient in operation, in that they require a considerableamount of power and do not effectively move the feed bunks under heavyloads and adverse weather conditions. Furthermore, these feeders requirean excessive number of parts and long power transmitting members.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The. invention relates to a feeding apparatushaving feed carrying means movably mounted on an overhead or monorail. Aplurality of hanger means, movably carried on the rail, support the feedcarrying means above the surface of a feeding lot. A drive means isoperable to move the feed carrying means and hangers relative to therail, whereby the feed carrying means can be moved to selectivelocations in the feed lot. The drive means has a power driven wheelmeans cooperating with an elongated flexible element connected to atleast one of the hanger means. The elongated flexible element is trainedover the wheel means so that upon rotation of the wheel means, power istransmitted through the flexible element to the hanger means by movingthe hanger means on the rail means. Rigid strut means extend between andare connected to the adjacent'spaced hanger means. The strut means, inaddition to maintaining the longitudinal space between the hanger means,also transmits force to the hanger means so that all of the hanger meansare simultaneously moved by the action of the flexible element. Anelectric motor,

with suitable power transmitting means, is used to drive the wheelmeans. A reversing switch, actuated in response to the position of thefeeder, is used to automatically reverse the direction of the drivewheel means and thereby move the feed carrying means back to its initialposition.

An additional feature of the invention is the use of an adjustablesuspension structure operable to change the elevation of the feedcarrying means to a selected height. This structure is also removable sothat different types of feed carrying means can be used in the feedingapparatus. This permits the same feeding apparatus to be used on cattle,hogs and poultry.

An object of the invention is to provide a monorail feeding apparatuswith an efficient, low power drive structure capable of moving feedcarrying bunks to selected locations relative to the rail under heavyloads and adverse weather conditions. A further object of the inventionis to provide a feeding apparatus which hasa minimum number of parts andcan be readily converted to different types of livestock and poultryfeeding. IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of thefeeding apparatus of the invention showing selected positions of thefeed bunks relative to the supporting overhead rail;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the feeding apparatus ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the drive mechanism for moving thefeeder on the rail;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a hanger showing the connectionof the struts to the hanger;

F IG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 66 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an end hanger showing the connection ofthe chain to the hanger;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line l0 10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 1 1 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 11-11 ofFIG.4;.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12- 12 ofFIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a transverse sectional view of a modified feed bunk.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a feeding apparatusof the invention, indicated generally at 15, positioned in a feeding lot16. The feeding apparatus 15 has an overhead or monorail structure 17connected to a supporting beam 18. A plurality of spaced cross members19 hold the support beam at an elevation above the feeding lot 16. Aplurality of spaced upright rods 21 connect the overhead rail 17 withthe support beam 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the rods 21 extend through thebeam 18 and carry nuts 21A. The nuts 21A, being threaded on the rods 21,are used to level the overhead rail 17.

Movably supported on the rail 17 are a plurality of longitudinallyspaced hanger units, indicated generally at 22, for moving the feedcarrying bunks or containers 23. An upright suspension structure 24 isused to connect the hanger units with the bunks 23. Extended betweenadjacent hanger units 22 are rigid struts 25 which maintain thelongitudinal spacingbetween adjacent hanger units and transmit forcefrom one hanger unit to another hanger unit.

The hanger units and associated feed carrying bunks are moved relativeto the rail with a drive assembly, in-

dicated generally at 26. The drive assembly 26 has a driven wheel means27 cooperating with an elongated flexible element or chain 28 for movingthe feed carrying bunks 23. The flexible element is secured to the endhanger units 22 and is carried by the intermediate hanger units and therigid struts 25. The flexible element 28 can be cable or rope trainedabout a driving upright holes for accommodating the lower portions ofthe upright rods 21.

The hanger units 21 ride on the flanges 32 and 33. As shown in FIG. 4,hanger unit 22 has a pair of laterally spaced upright side plates 36 and37 attached to a transverse cross plate 38 forming a generally U-shapedstructure. Rotatably mounted on the upper ends of the side plates 36 and37 are rollers 39 and 41 which ride on top of the flanges 32 and 33respectively. Axles 42 and 43 are secured to the side plates 36 and 37and extend inwardly over the flanges 32 and 33. The rollers 39 and 41are rotatably mounted on the axles. Secured to the bottom edge of thecross plate 38 is a U-shaped loop 44 carrying a cable 46 forming part ofthe suspension structure 24.

Referring to FIG. 5, a horizontal finger or stud 47 extends through ahole in the cross plate 38. The stud 47 is secured by welds or the liketo the cross plate. The ends of the rigid struts 25 telescope over thestud 47 and are secured thereto with pins 48 and 49.

The rigid compression struts 25 comprise elongated central tubularmembers or pipes 51 connected to adjacent hanger units 22 in the mannershown in FIG. 5. Each pipe has two sets of three outwardly directed arms52, 53 and 54. As shown in FIG. 6, arms 52 and 53 extend in an upwardand outward direction. Arm 54 extends in a downward direction. Securedto the outer ends of the arms and end portions of the pipe 51 are rods56, 57, and 58. These rods minimize the flexing and bending of pipe 51during the time the strut is used to push the adjacent hanger unit. Theflexible element or chain 28 is held in position along the bottom of therail 17 by the upper arms 52 and 53 and pipe 51.

As shownin FIG. 4, drive assembly 26 has a transverse shaft 59 carryingthe drive wheel means 27. The drive wheel means is a pocket wheel forcarrying the chain 28 (not shown). Shaft 59 is rotatably mounted in apair of bearings 61 and 62 mounted on angle support members 63 and 64.Support angle members 63 and 64 are secured to the top of the rail anglemembers 29 and 31 in approximately the middle of the angle members. Thismounts the drive assembly 26 directly on the overhead rail 17. Power issupplied to the driven wheel means 27 with an electric motor 66 securedto a transverse plate 67. The plate 67 is attached to the top of themembers 63 and 64. Mounted on the motor 66 is a gear reducer 68. A chainand sprocket drive 69 transmits power from the gear reducer 68 to theshaft 59.

The flexible chain 28 is trained over the pocket drive wheel 27 andaround longitudinally spaced idler wheels 71 and 72. Transverse axles 73and 74 rotatably mount the wheels 71 and 72 on the rail anglemembers 29and 31. Opposite ends of the flexible chain 28 are attached to the endhangers 22. As shown in FIG. 7, a connector 76, as an eyebolt andclevis, is used to attach the end of the flexible chain 28 to the crossplate 38 of the hanger unit 22. Other types of connectors can be used toattach the flexible element 28 to the end hangers of the feedingapparatus.

The feed carrying containers 23, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, areindividual open top boxes or bunks supported in and end-to-end relativerelationship by the suspension structures 24. The bunks are identical instructure. The following description .is limited to a single bunk.

The bunk has a bottom 77 and upright side walls 78 and 79. The bottomand side walls are attached to transverse upright end walls 81. Thebottom 77 comprises a plurality of side-by-side members, as planks.Longitudinal splines 82 fit into suitable grooves in the adjacent edgesof the planks to provide a feed tight bottom. The end walls have atransverse bottom lip 83 supporting the ends of the bottom 77 andupwardly directed flanges 84 and 86 attached with suitable nuts andbolts to the ends of the side walls 78 and 79. An additional crosssupporting structure (not shown) can be used between the ends of thebunk for the bottom and side walls. The bunks are maintained inend-to-end relationship with a nut and bolt assembly 87 extendedcentrally through the end walls 81. A coil spring 88 is used inconjunction with the nut and bolt assembly87 to provide for limitedflexing movement between adjacent bunks.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 11, and 12, there is shown a hoist assembly,indicated generally at 89, forming part of the suspension structure 24.Straps 91 and 92, secured at their lower ends to the end plates of thebunk, are attached to the hoist assembly. The hoist assembly 89 has agenerally upright tube 93 secured to downwardly directed side straps 94and 96. A transverse shaft 97 is rotatably mounted on the lower end ofthe straps. The cable 46 extends through the tube 93 and is attached tothe shaft 97. Upon rotation of the shaft 97, the cable will either windon the shaft or unwind from the shaft. The upper ends of the bunk straps91 and 92 are fitted on the shaft 97. A pin 98, through one end of theshaft 97, maintains the strap 92 in assembled relation with the shaft97. A crank arm 99 is attached to the opposite end of the shaft 97' witha transverse pin 1 01. The pin 101 can be removed so that the crank canbe used with other hoist assemblies of th feeding apparatus.

The shaft 97 can be locked against rotation with a latch, indicatedgenerally at 102. The latch 102 comprises a square member 103 fixablymounted on the shaft 97. Cooperating with the square member is a pawl104. A pivot member 106 rotatably mounts the pawl 104 on the strap 96.The lower end of the pawl has a right angle cutout corner 107 which isadapted to engage a corner of the square member 103, as shown in FIG.12, to prevent rotation of the shaft 97 in a clockwise direction. Thisprevents the cable 46 from unwinding from the shaft 97. The shaft isrotated to either raise or lower the feed bunks 23 to their desiredposition. The crank 99 is used to manually raise and lower the feedbunks by changing the length of the cable 46. The latch 102 is operativeto hold the shaft 97 in a selected position. I

Referring to FIG. 13, there is shown a feed bunk, indicated generally at108, designed for hogs or poultry. This feed bunk can be attached to thehoist assembly 89. Since the hoist assembly is operable to adjust theheight of the bunk, the bunk can be lowered to the proper elevation forhogs or poultry. Feed bunk 108 has an elongated bottom trough 109.Thetrough has a flat V-shaped cross section. Extended upwardly from thecenter portion of the trough is an outwardly divergent hopper 111 forstoring feed. The hopper 111 has upright end walls 112. Upright straps113 and 114, secured to the end walls, are used to attach thefeed bunkto the transverse shaft 97 of the hoist assembly.

The motor 66 can be automatically operated through the use of areversing switch 116 mounted on the angle member 63 shown in FIGS. 2 and3. Reversing switch 116 has a sliding rod actuator 117 positioned forhorizontal movement to reverse the power to the motor 66. As shown inFIG. 2, upright stop arms 118 and 119 are secured to opposite endportions of the struts 25 connected to the end hanger units 22. The stoparms 118 and 119 extend upwardly from the rigid struts 25 adjacent therail 17. The upper ends of the stop arms are in longitudinal alignmentwith the sliding rod actuator so that upon movement of the arms alongthe rail 17, the actuator will move and reverse the switch 116. Thiswill change the direction of the movement of the feeding apparatus. Amanually controlled switch (not shown) can be used to control the powerto the switch 116. A remote or manual control switch can also be used todirectly control and reverse the motor.

In use, upon operation of the motor 66, the pocket wheel or drive wheelmeans 27 will be rotated, thereby pulling the elongated flexible element28. Since the end of the flexible element is attached to the last hangerunit 22, the flexible element will pull the hanger unit toward thecentral location of the drive assembly 26. The rigid compression struts25 push the forwardly located hanger units so that the entire bunkfeeding apparatus will move along the rail 17. This changes the locationof the bunks 23, for example, from the full line position shown in P16.1 to the dotted line position so that feeding can be accomplished in atleast two locations in the feed lot. When the stop arm 118 reverses theswitch 116, the motor 66 will drive the wheel means 27 in a reversedirection and thereby pull the hanger units 22 in the oppositedirection. The bunks 23 will continue to move until the source of powerto the motor 66 is terminated.

Different styles and lengths of bunks can replace the bunks 23. This isdone by merely detaching the straps 91 and 92 from the shaft 97 andconnecting the straps for the new bunks on the shaft 97. The hoistassembly 89 is then used to adjust the elevation of the new bunksaccording to the requirements of the livestock or fowl.

The above description and drawings are directed to a preferredembodiment of the invention. It is to be understood that changes in thetype of rail, hanger structure, drive assembly, feed bunks and otherparts of the feeding apparatus may be made without departing from thescope of the invention. For example, the number of feed bunks may varyfrom a single feed bunk to a plurality of bunks.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A feeding apparatus comprising: feed bunk means for holding feed in aposition where it is accessible to animals or poultry, an elongated railmeans located above a surface of a feeding location for establishing apath of movement of the feed bunk means, a plurality of spaced hangermeans movably supported on the rail means, suspension means connectingthe feed bunk means and hanger means, said feed bunk means supported bythe hanger means and suspension means at an elevation above the surfaceof a feeding location so that the feed in the feed bunk means isaccessible to animals or poultry, said suspension means having means toselectively raise and lower the feed bunk means, and drive means formoving the feed bunk means relative to the rail means whereby the feedbunk means moves along its path of movement carrying feed.

2. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 including: rigid strut meansextended between and connected to adjacent hanger means,.

3. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the rail means comprise apair of side-by-side members having outwardly directed flanges.

4. The feeding apparatus of claim 3 wherein: the hanger means compriseU-shaped members carrying rollers that ride on the flanges of the railmeans and rigid strut means extended between and connected to adjacenthanger means.

5. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the feed bunk meanscomprise generally rectangular bunks.

6. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said drive means includespower driven wheel means and elongated flexible means, said flexiblemeans having separate portions connected to separate hanger means.

7. The feeding apparatus of claim 6 wherein: the drive means includes amotor for driving the wheel means and switch means operable in responseto the position of the hanger means to reverse the driving direction ofthe motor, whereby the hanger means are moved in an opposite directionon the rail means.

8. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the feed carrying meanscomprise box-shaped units having open tops and upright ends, and meansyieldably connecting adjacent ends.

9. The feeding apparatus of claim 6 including: rigid strut meansextended between and connected to adjacent hanger means, said strutmeans comprising a central tubular member, a plurality of outwardlydirected arms secured to the member and longitudinal rod means securedto the arms, said elongated flexible means being located along thecentral means.

10. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the feed carrying meanscomprise a feed bunk having a generally linear W-shaped trough andhopper means located above the trough for supplying feed to the trough.

11. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said means to selectivelyraise and lower the feed bunk means includes a cable attached to thehanger means and a rotatable shaft for accommodating the cable and alock means for releasably holding the shaft in a selected position.v

12. The feeding apparatus of claim 6 wherein: the rail means compriselaterally spaced rails and the power driven wheel means being located ingeneral vertical alignment with the space between the rails, whereby theflexible member is pulled generally parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the rail means.

13. The feeding apparatus of claim 12 including: support means rotatablymounting the wheel means on the rails.

14. The feeding apparatus of claim 13 wherein: said support means aresecured to the .top of the rails and idler wheels located between androtatably mounted on the rails for guiding the flexible element to thepower driven wheel means.

1. A feeding apparatus comprising: feed bunk means for holding feed in aposition where it is accessible to animals or poultry, an elongated railmeans located above a surface of a feeding location for establishing apath of movement of the feed bunk means, a plurality of spaced hangermeans movably supported on the rail means, suspension means connectingthe feed bunk means and hanger means, said feed bunk means supported bythe hanger means and suspension means at an elevation above the surfaceof a feeding location so that the feed in the feed bunk means isaccessible to animals or poultry, said suspension means having means toselectively raise and lower the feed bunk means, and drive means formoving the feed bunk means relative to the rail means whereby the feedbunk means moves along its path of movement carrying feed.
 1. A feedingapparatus comprising: feed bunk means for holding feed in a positionwhere it is accessible to animals or poultry, an elongated rail meanslocated above a surface of a feeding location for establishing a path ofmovement of the feed bunk means, a plurality of spaced hanger meansmovably supported on the rail means, suspension means connecting thefeed bunk means and hanger means, said feed bunk means supported by thehanger means and suspension means at an elevation above the surface of afeeding location so that the feed in the feed bunk means is accessibleto animals or poultry, said suspension means having means to selectivelyraise and lower the feed bunk means, and drive means for moving the feedbunk means relative to the rail means whereby the feed bunk means movesalong its path of movement carrying feed.
 2. The feeding apparatus ofclaim 1 including: rigid strut means extended between and connected toadjacent hanger means,.
 3. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein: therail means comprise a pair of side-by-side members having outwardlydirected flanges.
 4. The feeding apparatus of claim 3 wherein: thehanger means comprise U-shaped members carrying rollers that ride on theflanges of the rail means and rigid strut means extended between andconnected to adjacent hanger means.
 5. The feeding apparatus of claim 1wherein: the feed bunk means comprise generally rectangular bunks. 6.The feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said drive means includespower driven wheel means and elongated flexible means, said flexiblemeans having separate portions connected to separate hanger means. 7.The feeding apparatus of claim 6 wherein: the drive means includes amotor for driving the wheel means and switch means operable in responseto the position of the hanger means to reverse the driving direction ofthe motor, whereby the hanger means are moved in an opposite directionon the rail means.
 8. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the feedcarrying means comprise box-shaped units having open tops and uprightends, and means yieldably connecting adjacent ends.
 9. The feedingapparatus of claim 6 including: rigid strut means extended between andconnected to adjacent hanger means, said strut means comprising acentral tubular member, a plurality of outwardly directed arms securedto the member and longitudinal rod means secured to the arms, saidelongated flexible means being located along the central means.
 10. Thefeeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the feed carrying means comprise afeed bunk having a generally linear W-shaped trough and hopper meanslocated above the trough for supplying feed to the trough.
 11. Thefeeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said means to selectively raiseand lower the feed bunk means iNcludes a cable attached to the hangermeans and a rotatable shaft for accommodating the cable and a lock meansfor releasably holding the shaft in a selected position.
 12. The feedingapparatus of claim 6 wherein: the rail means comprise laterally spacedrails and the power driven wheel means being located in general verticalalignment with the space between the rails, whereby the flexible memberis pulled generally parallel to the longitudinal center line of the railmeans.
 13. The feeding apparatus of claim 12 including: support meansrotatably mounting the wheel means on the rails.